Thread and yarn dispenser



Feb, 7. 1956 A. B. CUNNINGHAM 2,733,877

' THREAD AND YARN DISPENSER Filed May 29, 1952 Albert B. Gunmhgham I N V EN TOR.

United States PatentC 1 This invention relates in'general to dispensers, and more particularly to a dispenserfor thread and yarn mounted on spools. I

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved thread yarn dispenser on which may be conviently mounted spools of thread and yarn for dispensing the same as the thread and yarn are utilized in either a l design so as to have a pleasing 'apearance and at the same time being eflicient in operation, said thread and yarn dispenser .being .of simple and compact construction whereby it is economicallyfeasible.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved yarn dispenser in which various portions thereof are interchangable in order to permit the same to accommodate spools of thread and yarn of different lengths and diameters.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, com-.

bination and' arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification,

particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the thread and yarn dispenser which is the subject of this invention and shows the general details'thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the -on which the thread or yarn is wound.

2,733,371 r V. l'fatented Feb. .7, 21956 recess 14 gives the "base 10 a novel appearance and at the same time provides a space for the storage of pins or other small articles normally utilized-in crocheting and knitting operations.

Extending upwardly :from the centralportion 18 of the base 10 is :a vertical standard Not an ornamental design.

The standard 20 has a lower end 22 of a reduced cross section which is retained in a centrally located vertical bore 24 in the central portion 18. Extending transversely of the upper end of the standard 20 is a transverse member 22 which forms a transverse part of a U-shaped supporting portion. The transverse member 22 is provided with a downwardly extending bore 24 at its midpoint in which is received a reduced upper end 26 of the standard 20. e

'The outer ends of the transverse member 22 are provided with .vertically extending portions '28 'in which are mounted vertically projecting pins 30. "Removably mounted on each of the projecting pins-301s a'vertically extending leg 32, each -leg '32 having a longitudinal bore 34 in which the associated pin 30 is removably telescoped. The upper ends of the legs 32 are'provided-with rounded portions 36 which have transversely extending aligned boresSS therein. Extending between the roundedupper ends '36 is a transversely extending horizontal shaft 40 whose ends are secured within the bores 38. Mounted on the shaft 40 for rotation with respect thereto is a first arbor 42 which is provided with an inwardly extending conical shaped portion 44, the conical" shaped portion 44 being adapted to be secured in one end of a spool In spaced parallel relation to the first arbor 42 is a second arbor 46 which is also mounted on the shaft 40 for rotation with respect thereto. The arbor 46 is provided with a centrally located inwardly projecting cylindrical portion 48 and a plurality of outwardly spaced concentric annular flanges 50 for receiving spools of various diameters.

In order that the arbors 42 and 46 may tightly engage in the ends of spools, theshaft 40 has mounted thereon between the arbors 42 and 46,, and their respective legs 32 a plurality of spacers, the spacers being of difierent length and referred to by the reference numerals 52 and 54.

When a spool is to be mounted between the arbors 42 and 46 and is of a length longer than that of the spacing between the arbors 42 and 46, as illustrated in Figure I 3, a selected one of the spacers 52 and 54 is removed from section line 22 of Figure 3 and shows the general construction of the thread and yarn dispenser;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 2 and shows the general arrangement of the various portions of the yarn dispenser; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical view similar to Figure 3 and shows the manner in which various elements of the thread and yarn dispenser may be interof this invention, includes a circular base 10 which has a flat lower side 12 for engagement with a supporting surface. The upper side of the base 10 is provided with an annular recess 14 so asto form an annular rim 16 and an upwardly projecting central section 18. The annular each end of the shaft 40. This permits the arbors 42 and'46 to be spaced further apart and receive a longer spool. In order that the spacers removed from the shaft 40 may not be lost and at the same time providing for the greater diameter which normally accompanies a longer spool, the removed spacers are mounted on the pins 30 between the vertically extending end portions 28 and the lower ends of the legs 32, as is best illustrated in Figure 4.

In order that a spool may be mounted on the shaft 40 between the arbors 42 and 46, the legs 32, together with the shaft 40, are raised vertically and out of engagement with the pins 30. Then the legs 32 may be removed from the ends of the shaft 40 and a spool mounted thereon between the arbors 32 and 46. It will be understood that the arbors 42 and 46 have a snug fit on the shaft 40, but are loose enough to freely rotate.

In order that yarn or thread be dispensed from a spool (not shown) mounted on the shaft 40, there is mounted on the thread dispenser a guide, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 56. The guide 56 includes an elongated piece of spring steel wire 58 which is bent into a generally elongated rectangular form and has one end thereof formed in a loop 60. The loop 69 is mounted on the outer end of an outwardly projecting arm 62 carried by the central portion of the transverse member 22. The other end of the wire 58 is bent to ,so as to have a pleasing appearance and at the same time be relatively inexpensive. However, it will be understood that the dispenser, if desired may be formed of any suitable materials including metal.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoing description of the details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and the drawings. Further description would appear to be'unnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from the embodiment of the deviceillustratd and described here, may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A thread and yarn dispenser comprising a base, a shaft supporting structure carried by said base, said shaft supporting structure including a generally U-shaped portion having upstanding legs, a spool receiving shaft extending horizontally between the upper ends of said legs, said spool receiving shaft having mounted thereon spool engaging arbors, said arbors being normally spaced from said legs by spacers carried by said shaft, said legs being removably secured to a transverse part of the U-shaped portion by vertical extending pins, said legs being detachable from said shaft, one of said arbors being provided with a plurality of concentric flanges for selective engagement within a I said one arbor, said second arbor having a generally conical flange portion for engagement Within a second end of a spool.

2. A thread and yarn dispenser comprising a base, a shaft supporting structure carried by said base, said shaft supporting structure including a generally U-shaped por tion having upstanding legs, a spool receiving shaft extending horizontally between the upper ends of said legs, said spool receiving shaft having mounted thereon spool engaging arbors, said arbors being normally spaced from said legs by spacers carried by said shaft, said legs being removably secured to a transverse part of the U-shaped portion by vertical extending pins, said legs being detachable from said shaft, said transverse part having mounted thereon a guide for thread and yarn, said guide including a generally rectangular shaped resilient member having one end secured against movement, the other end thereof formed with an eye, said one end being secured on a forwardly extending arm carried by said transverse part, said eye being engageable with said arm to retain yarn in said guide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 206,637 Stilwell July 30, 1878 216,485 Mason June 10, 1879 274,490 Gunn Mar. 27, 1883 387,500 Eckerson Aug. 7, 1888 427,853 Gimmini May 13, 1890 1 508,238 Pridemore .Q Nov. 7, 1893 726,449 McKee Apr. 28, 1903 1,119,428 Hirsch et al. Dec. 1, 1914 2,036,035 Giallanza Mar. 31, 1936 2,147,216 Raasch g Feb. 14, 1939 2,410,018 DArcy Oct. 29, 1946 2,467,825 Hall Apr. 19, 1949 2,580,533 Eastwood et al. Jan. 1, 1952 

